“You get the old little hand up. I know you got that car and you know I got one.”

The Ride

The Driver: Fayanne

Car in Question: 2009 Mini Cooper S

Spotted at: H.D. Buttercup, 3225 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Odometer: 12,085

THE DEFENSE

Q: Hi Fayanne. Welcome to Defend Your Ride Los Angeles. What can you tell us about your awesome ride?

A: This is my second Mini, so this one is a 2009 Mini Cooper S. It’s the turbo. It has 177 horsepower as opposed to the basic, which only has 113.

Q: You had the basic the first time?

A: Yes, I had the basic, which I got in ’06. I literally called the Mini dealer and said, “What color do you have? Do you have red?” They said yes. They delivered it to me the next day.

Q: How much time do you spend in it?

A: Not enough, because when I first got it, I would drive up the coast almost every single weekend just to drive the car because I only live less than three miles from my office. My biggest road trip is when I just went up to Sonoma. I just drove up to Sonoma by myself for the NASCAR races two weekends ago. That put the most amount of mileage on the car.

Q: What was your favorite part about your ride to Sonoma?

A: I just felt cool in my little car. I could zip and it had the power that I wanted. I just think they’re the coolest cars. I don’t think I’ll ever drive another brand of car ever again.

Q: You look rockin’ in it.

A: Why thank you!

Q: Do you have any rules in the car?

A: Yes, truthfully I do not have people in the backseat even though it has six airbags. This car has a bigger backseat than my ’06. I just don’t like the idea because the windows don’t go down in the back. It’s always been my complaint with any Mini cars. I just prefer not to have people in the backseat. But again, I’m on such short trips it doesn’t matter. And no smoking!

Q: Do you listen to anything in your car?

A: Oh, let’s see, I had Kenny Chesney for six and a half hours up to Sonoma and Bruce Springsteen for six and a half hours back.

Q: And do you rock out with the songs?

A: Oh yeah, I sing. It’s great.

Q: If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?

A: I think it would be happy. Happy and cool. It’s very sleek looking. This is the darker gray with the black top and the black mirror caps. There’s a sleek look about it. That was the reason I got it. I just thought it was sleek and cool. That kind of combination is a very hip combination.